1. Forensic Anthropology

2. Role of the Forensic Anthropologist:  Recover Human Remains  Identify Human Remains  Determine Time or Cause of Death Forensic Anthropology

3. Education:  Most forensic anthropologists are specialists in physical anthropology. Forensic Anthropology  Work in universities or museums  Certification available from the American Board of Forensic Anthropology

4. Forensic Anthropology

5. Recovering Human Remains Forensic Anthropology

6. Locating Human Remains  Cadaver dogs  Remote sensing methods Forensic Anthropology > Recovering Remains

7.  Find small bones or bone fragments  Recover clothing and trace materials associated with bones  Prevent damage of bones  Map the location of bones and maintain chain of custody Forensic Anthropology > Recovering Remains Anthropologists can help:

8. Identifying the remains Age - look at bone length and bone fusion Sex - differences in pelvis, skull, femur Stature - size of bones Ancestry - teeth, skull Forensic Anthropology

9. Individuality may be determined:  from surgical procedures  from broken bones Identifying the remains Forensic Anthropology

10. Determining Time of Death  Anthropologist helpful if soft tissues have decomposed.  If soft tissue is present, identification can be done by the pathologist. Forensic Anthropology

11.  Sharp force trauma (bone cut)  Blunt force trauma (broken bone)  Antemortem vs. postmortem breaks Determining Cause of Death Forensic Anthropology

12. Final Report Should Include:  Taphonomy (time of death)  Biological profile (age, sex, stature, race)  Individual characteristics  Evidence of possible cause of death Forensic Anthropology

13. Anthropology:  medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/osteo/forensics  www.csuchico.edu/anth/ABFA Odontology:  www.abfo.org Forensic Anthropology > Web Links